The summer of 2012 may prove to be unforgettable

This summer saw not only soaring temperatures, but a rare storm called a derecho that took more than a week to recover from. (WTOP Composite)

WASHINGTON – Labor Day weekend is the unofficial end of summer — and this summer is one that Washingtonians will find hard to forget. Thanks not only the soaring temperatures, but the intense storms.

The past three summers including this one, have been the hottest on record.

This summer, a new record was set for the hottest day in June, and July had the most days over 100 degrees ever. There was even a day where we reached 100 degrees before noon that month.

“Not only has it been hot during the day, but many of our nights have been very warm too — with temperatures at or above 80 degrees,” says ABC 7 meteorologist Mike Stinneford.

Friday marked the 28th day of the year that temperatures hit 95 degrees or higher — matching the record set in 1980.

This year, the area also tied the record for most consecutive days over 100 degrees in July. That record was set in 1930. And set the record for the longest stretch of temperatures at or above 95 degrees from June 28 to July 8.

That late June/early July heat wave came with a rare type of storm called derecho that crippled the region.

“It’s a wild card and it’s unusual to get a derecho through here,” says Stinneford. “It only happens once every few years, and a derecho like we saw, could be a once in a lifetime event.”

The rare June 29 storm knocked out power to hundreds of thousands of people, caused phone problems, including 911 service in Northern Virginia, and even inspired a new beer.

That wasn’t the only severe weather we’ve had this summer either. Early June saw a severe line of storms that caused more than a dozen tornadoes in the area, and Stinneford points out that nearly every weekend this summer has had thunderstorms – though not all of them have been severe.

While meteorological summer is over — astronomical summer doesn’t end until Sept. 21.

Stinneford says that if the ground stays dry, we could be experiencing the same high temperatures and stormy weather patterns until then.